Automatic regulator for pneumatic pianos.



V. L. JONES.

AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR PNEUMATIC PIANOS.

APPLICATION men APR. 10. ms.

1,223,885. Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

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UNITED STATES PATENT GEETEE.

VERN LrJONES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE FABRAND COMPANY, OFDETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR PNEUMATIC PIANOS.

Application filed April 10, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Venn L. J ONES, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticRegulators for Pneumatic Pianos, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawmg's.

The invention relates to automatic regulators for pneumatic pianos andmore particularly to a tempo regulator of the type in which theregulator is automatically operated by perforations in the music sheet.

The invention resides in the provision of an improved construction ofregulator that is simple in construction; that will quickly and readilyrespond to the various adjustments; that is highly efficient; andfurther in certain details of structure and arrangement and combinationof parts as will more fully hereinafter appear and as pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings,

The figure is a front View of the device embodying my invention.

A designates the tracker board, B the music rolls and C the music sheet.D is a motor for driving the winding roll and E the tempo valve thatcontrols the connection from the pumping bellows to the motor. At theedge of the tracker board are one or more apertures as G G G etc.,normally covered by the music sheet and each adapted to be open wheneveran aperture in the paper is brought into registration therewith. Leadingfrom the apertures G'G G are a corresponding number of tubes H H Hconnected to pneumatics I for actuating valves J which controlcommunication between valve chambers K and a vacuum chamber L. Thelatter is connected to the exhaust apparatus by means of a pipe M andthe valve chambers are in communication with a shifting mechanism forthe member E.

This shifting mechanism is of improved construction and is designed tobe readily responsive to the controlling mechanism therefor. As shown,the stem E of the valve E has its outer end connected to a piston Narranged for reciprocation in a cylinder 0. P and Q are small bleeds inSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 24:, 1917.

Serial No. 760,253.

the ends of the cylinder and R R R designate a plurality of independentconduits each connected at one end of the cylinder intermediate the endsof the latter, and having its opposite end connected to one of the valvechambers.

In operation, assuming the parts are as illustrated in the drawing andthe aperture G is opened by a perforation in the music sheet, air willenter a pneumatic T hrough the tube H and the pneumatic will beexpanded. This will raise the valve J and establish communicationbetween the chamber controlled by this valve and the vacuum chamber.Since the valve chamber is in communication with the cylinder by meansof the conduit R, a vacuum will be produced at the left hand end of thecylinder which will move the piston until it practically closes theconduit E. This move ment of the piston correspondingly.shifts the valveE. if further movement of the valve E is desired the next opening as Gwill be connected with the atmosphere, which will establishcommunication between the vacuum chamber and the cylinder through theconduit R causing the piston to move until this latter conduit ispractically closed by the piston. Likewise a similar adjustment of thepiston to the left may be effected through the remaining conduits.

If the piston is moved, say to the conduit R and it is desired to shiftthe valve in the reverse direction as to the conduit R, upon the openingof the aperture G a vacuum will be produced at the right of the pistonwhich will shift the latter until it closes the conduit R. In otherwords, the shifting of the piston in both directions is controlled bythe vacuum in the vacuum chamber, and it will be noted that irrespectiveof whether the piston is to the right or to the left of the conduitleading to the valve chamber that has been placed in communication withthe vacuum chamber, the piston will be moved to close this conduit.Therefore, the opening of one of the apertures G G G etc. insures ashifting of the valve E to a given position, irrespective of theposition of the piston at the time the aperture is open. It is to beunderstood that the bleeds are restricted in size so as not to destroythe vacuum in the cylinder when the latter is in communication with thevacuum chamber, but are of suflicient size to prevent compression of theair in the cylinder during shifting of the piston.

When the piston is moved to any one of its diilerent positions ofadjustment, it will be noted that the piston remains in its adjustedposition even upon closing of the port in the tracker board.

lVhile I have described my improvement as specifically embodied in anautomatic regulator, it is to be understood that while it is peculiarlyadapted for such a device, the shifting mechanism might be employed toregulate other parts, and also that the ducts which are shown as leadingto the tracker board and controlled by the music sheet, might bearranged at other points in relation to the piano and controlled by asuitable device or devices.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a pneumatically operated musicalinstrun'ient, the combination with a valve member for controlling themotor, a valve chest provided with a vacuum chamber and a tracker board,of means for controlling said valve member and valve chest, including aplurality of connections between the chest and the tracker board, acylinder, a plurality of separate conduits between the valve chest andthe cylinder, means for connecting said last mentioned connections tosaid vacuum chamber, a piston in the cylinder, and an operativeconnection intermediate the valve and piston.

2. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument, the combination of amember to be operated and a tracker board, of a piston member and acylinder member, means for moving said member to be operated upon themovement of said piston member, a plurality of ducts opening into saidcylinder member, a vacuum chamber, connections between said vacuumchamber and tracker board and means actuated through said connectionsfor operatively connecting said duets with said vacuum chamber, toradjusting said member to be operated upon the uncovering of the port inthe tracker board, said member remaining in its adjusted position uponthe closing of said port.-

3. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument, the combination withthe member to be adjusted, means for controlling said member comprisinga piston member and a cylinder member, said cylinder member havingbleeds arranged in its ends, an operating connection between one of saidmembers and the member to be adjusted, a valve chamber, anadjacent-vacuum chamber, connections between the valve chamber and saidcylinder, pneumatics, means operated by said pneumatics for connectingsaid valve chamber and vacuum chamber, ducts leading to the pneumatics,and means for controlling said ducts.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VERN L. JONES. lVitnesses:

M. J. BELKNAP, JAMES P. BARRY.

(iopiee'ot this patent may be obtained for Me cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of l'atentl, Wnhington, D. G.

